Paul Newman retires

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Posted by Matt Holmes. Last modified on May 26th, 2007 at 09:24am

One time Oscar winner (plus his honorary Oscar) and NINE time Academy Award nominated actor Paul Newman has announced his retirement from film on Good Morning America. The legendary actor is 82 and has been working in film for 5 full decades.

Newman said…

“I’ve been doing it for 50 years. That’s enough. I’m not able to act any more at the level I would want to.”

Newman ruled the screen in the 60’s and 70’s with his great performances in Cool Hand Luke, Hud, The Hustler and his two team-ups with Robert Redford in The Sting and Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid. Many were hoping that the pair would be able to team together for one last nostalgic trip but I guess that won’t be happening now, and it’s probably for the best so as not to taint their previous team-ups.

Although he has done some voice-over work in things such as last year’s Cars, Newman’s last on screen performance will be his role as Gangster boss John Rooney in the great movie Road to Perdition. It’s rare that the best actors get to finish out on top with such an amazing performance in a great movie but it would seem Newman will get that luxury… and he deserves it too.

Enjoy your retirement mate!

source - filmstalker, femalefirst

Categories: Movie News

4 Comments »

Amen to all of that. Road to Perdition was a stellar performance from Newman, who even then was saying he wanted to call it quits. He’s one of the greatest actors who’s ever lived. Anyone who hasn’t seen Exodus needs to.

But my favorite movie/performance of his has GOT to be Nobody’s Fool. That was a tour de force if there ever was one. It’s a damned good movie and I still can’t believe it wasn’t so much as nominated for any Oscars. Oh, and it also co-stars Bruce Willis and Phillip Seymour-Hoffman.

Comment by JaySmack | May 26, 2007

Never seen Nobody’s Fool but with that cast, I really have to make a point in checking it out!

Comment by Matt Holmes | May 27, 2007

I hope you will. And I’m SURE you’ll like it more than Crank! :D Nobody’s Fool is light-hearted but still a VERY serious drama. In many ways it mirrors Road To Perdition, especially the themes of “fathers and sons” and “redemption” and the tough politics of living in a small town.
BTW the great cast also includes Melanie Griffith (who actually manages to turn in a good performance) Jessica Tandy, Dylan Walsh and Pruitt Taylor Vince in a comedic turn as Newman’s sidekick. It’s full of so much good stuff you’ll remember this film long after it ends, even though nobody dies. THAT’S the mark of a good drama. It has impact without something overtly “DRAMATIC” having to happen. It’s the kind of movie that it seems Hollywood doesn’t make anymore.

If Newman had quit in 1994 this would also have been as high a note to end on as Road to Perdition. However I think Oliver Reed also went out on a high note with his role as Proximo in Gladiator.

Comment by JaySmack | May 27, 2007

Yeah Olivier Reed was teriffic in Gladiator, it’s a shame he never got to finish the film before he passed away.

John Wayne’s last movie The Shootist was a great way to go out too but it was more for his performance rather than the quality of the film.

Comment by Matt Holmes | May 28, 2007